Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth 
The Starfish
From the Starfish Children's Fund: A Story
A young man out for a stroll on the beach was interested in what appeared to be a dancing figure in the distance. As he got closer, he decided that this figure was not dancing at all, but was moving down the beach tossing things into the ocean.
When we was close enough, he saw that the figure was a woman who was searching the sand and rocks carefully, then stooping each time she found a starfish to pick it up and toss it into the water. When ge got with speaking distance, the stroller asked the woman why she was throwing starfish into the ocean.
"Well, as you can see," she explained, "the tide is going out, and these stranded starfish are going to die unless they can get back into the water."
"Well, yes,I suppose they will, " the young man said, "but there are so many starfish on this beach that you couldn't possibly save them all. And besides, there are so many thousands more in the ocean for every one that gets washed up, surely throwing a few back won't make much of a difference?"
"But," said the starfish thrower, "it makes a LOT of different to THIS one," as she tossed yet another starfish back to its watery home, and then continued to wander down the beach looking for more.
Life Matters: March 15, 2009. Sue Dailey talks about the Woven Basket Collection
Our Starfish Fund Program
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth provides funds (in the form of checks payable to merchants and service providers) to social service agency intermediaries. These checks are then given to designated beneficiaries who are living in poverty for a variety of things that would help a child such as school clothes and supplies, books, sports and family recreation equipment, sport and activity fees, musical instruments, birthday gifts, Christmas presents, fees for music lessons and summer camp. Beneficiaries are invited into our church community, but can choose to remain anonymous.
How you can help!
- Give 25 cents or more per week when the pink baby baskets are passed on Sundays .
- Serve on the Starfish Children's Fund Committee.
- Learn about the UU Service Committee's (UUSC) Promise the Children Campaign of work critical to children's issues.
- Advocate on behalf of children and youth by speaking out and by writing letters to the editor, of to city, state and national leaders.
- Respond to Action Alerts from the UUSC as a means of expressing your support.
- Educate yourself and others about the impact of children brought up in poverty on our nation's future.
The Starfish Children's Fund calls upon the time, treasure, and talents of all members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth. This program offers the opportunity for participation in a life-giving and life-saving endeavor, both to those who are able to give only a little and to those who can give more.